Khanh's passion is combining traditional and modern music .

An unexpected harmony

Born in 1992 into a family with a tradition in theatrical arts, Khanh grew up surrounded by music and songs, so music came to him as naturally as breathing. In 2009, he began studying the zither and the two-stringed fiddle at the Hue Academy of Music. For Khanh, the zither was not just an instrument, but a close friend, a gateway to the world of traditional Vietnamese music.

Four years later, as a freshman, Khanh stood on his own two feet. He took on gigs and participated in small performances to cover his tuition fees. "Back then, I simply thought that as long as I could play music, I was happy. There were shows where they paid little, but I still felt happy," he recounted.

During those years of studying and performing, Khanh met an older brother who was a rapper. His connection with hip-hop came naturally, from those times they sat together, exchanging ideas about music. One time, while his brother was rapping, Khanh casually pulled out his zither to try harmonizing with him, and discovered an unexpected harmony between two seemingly unrelated worlds: the zither's sound and the rap rhythm. It was at that moment that a new idea flashed through his mind: why not let the zither "converse," accompanying hip-hop?

Not content with just the idea, Khanh began to experiment with learning how to make beats (rhythms).

In 2010, Khanh released his first song combining the zither and two-stringed fiddle with rap music, titled "Day After Day." This product laid the foundation for the direction he has steadfastly pursued to this day: connecting traditional musical instruments with modern music. Three years later, he continued to research more deeply the arrangement and harmony between traditional Vietnamese instruments and Western instruments. "For me, music isn't about chasing trends. I just want to tell my own story, the story of the people around me, through melodies," he said.

The spirit of the past in new music.

After graduating, Khanh joined the Hue Opera and Drama Theatre. In October 2020, he decided to leave his permanent job and move to Ho Chi Minh City to pursue a career as a hip-hop artist.

But in October 2022, Khanh returned to Hue and became an independent artist. He performed on the zither for the Hue Chamber Music Club and also collaborated on music arrangements for many other artists.

Among his notable works are "Me Linh Chorus" (performed by Thanh Hang), "A Little Bit of Hue Love" (performed by Mai Le), and "Phong Suong" by rapper Thai VG… Many of his works have not only been well-received by the audience but have also won awards at domestic music competitions.

Besides performing Hue folk songs, Khanh also rearranges folk melodies, incorporating the sound of the zither into EDM (electronic dance music) and hip-hop. For him, traditional music is not something to be "kept in a glass case," but rather material that can thrive in the present. "Traditional music is inherently a part of me. Once you understand and become familiar with it, combining it with other genres becomes very easy. The key is to respect the roots and not lose its soul," Khanh said. He believes that this combination not only creates novelty but also helps the younger generation get closer to traditional music. If we only talk about preservation, sometimes music will stand still. But when it comes to life, when it blends into new currents, its true value will spread.

In the future, Khanh plans to form a band in Hue, where traditional Vietnamese instruments like the bầu lute, nhị fiddle, and bamboo flute can harmonize with electric guitar, jazz drums, or keyboard. He calls it a multi-system band, where traditional and Western music are not in opposition but complement, interact, and enrich each other. "Hue is not just about Hue folk songs," he says, "Hue can also have jazz, hip-hop, funk, as long as it retains the unique soul and rhythm of this land."

This is not just a personal dream, but also a desire to contribute to giving the public a fresh perspective on the music of the ancient capital: dynamic, open, and inclusive, while still preserving its inherent profound spirit.

Throughout his journey, Nguyen Luong Ngoc Khanh not only "preserves" traditional music but also renews, evolves, and adapts it to contemporary life. He always believes that artists, if they lose their core values, will easily fall into indifference. "For me, the core value of an artist is music. I want music to live on with the times, but still retain its soul. That's the only way for tradition to continue to resonate," Khanh shared.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, Khánh's zither playing continues to resonate, sometimes poignant in Huế folk songs, sometimes vibrant and energetic in rap tracks. In each setting, listeners can still sense the soul of the past touching contemporary music, gently yet profoundly.

Pham Phuoc Chau

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/khi-dan-bau-gap-hiphop-159699.html